Paraphenylenediamine dipicrate and process of preparing same



Patented Dec. 12, 1933 PARAPHENYLENEDIAMINE DIPICRATE AND PROCESS OFPREPARING SAME 7 Jean Piccard, Lower Berkshire Valley, N. J., as-

signor to Hercules Powder Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation ofDelaware NoDrawing. Application January .23, 1931 Serial No. 510,772

3 Claims.

My invention relates to a new composition of matter. The compositionembodying my invention comprises paraphenylenediamine dipicrate.

Paraphenyienediamine dipicrate, heretofore not 5 known, I have found tobe a composition possessing numerous advantages rendering it adaptablefor a variety of uses and, more particularly,

for use in connection with the explosives art. The composition isinsensitive to friction and blows, but may be ignited and burns with anintensely hot flame. It may be used as a primer charge over variousknown explosives, as fulminate, diazodinitrophenol, lead azide, etc.and. with oxidizing salts, as potassium chlorate, barium nitrate, etc.When mixed with certain oxidizing salts paraphenylenediamine dipicratewill be exploded by a blow.

Paraphenylenediamine dipicrate is of special value for use in blastingcaps, since in admixture with oxidizing salts it may be readily ignitedby means of the usual bridge wire of an electric blasting cap and sinceadmixed with oxidizing salts it burns with an intensely hot flame, suchmixtures lend themselves to use as a top or in- 5 itiating charge over aprimary detonating compound as fulminate, diazodinitrophenol, leadazide, etc., etc. v

Further, since paraphenylenediamine dipicrate decomposes with anintensively hot flame and since it does not detonate, it is of specialvalue in delay electric blasting caps for the ignition of the time fuse.

Paraphenylenediamine dipicrate may be readily produced by mixing asolution of paraphenylenediamine in alcohol, as for example, ethyl,

solution of 8 grams of paraphenylenediamine in 35 cc. of ethyl alcoholwith a boiling or nearly boiling solution of 32 grams of picric acid in320 cc. of ethyl alcohol. Crystallization commences immediately andafter cooling is almost quanti- 50 tative. The picric acid andparaphenylenediamine react to form paraphenylenediamine dipicrate, whichbeing only slightly soluble in the alcohol, may be readily separatedtherefrom by cooling '5 and filtration.

The reaction involved in the preparation of paraphenylenediaminedipicrate maybe graphically shown as follows:

scope of my invention the new composition of matter paraphenylenediaminedipicrate however produced and for whatever use it maybe adaptable. Moreparticularly I contemplate as within 0 the scope of my inventiontheaddition product of paraphenylenediamine and picric acid.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: Y

1. Paraphenylenediamine dipicrate. 5

2. The method of producing paraphenylenediamine dipicrate which includesreacting in solution paraphenylenediamine and picric acid.

3. The method of producing paraphenylenej V diamine dipicrate whichincludes admixing an alcoholic solution of paraphenylenediamine andpicric acid and separating from the alcohol the paraphenylenediaminedipicrate formed.

JEAN PICCARD.

